Accord pair charged after multi-car crash in Kerhonkson, assaults at hospital in Ellenville

KERHONKSON, N.Y. -- Two people from Accord are facing charges in connection with a multi-car crash that involved alcohol and ultimately led to assaults on people at the hospital where the two were being treated, authorities said on Friday.

Shawn A. Yerkes, 48, and Sherri Lynn Murden, 44, both of 297 Whitfield Road, Accord, were arrested by deputies at 10:02 p.m. Thursday, according to the Ulster County Sheriff's Office.

Both Yerkes and Murden were charged with felony assault and obstructing governmental administration. Murden also was charged with drunken driving, refusing to submit to a blood test, criminal possession of a controlled substance , having a prescription medication outside the original container, speeding, driving an unregistered motor vehicle and failure to keep right.

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Deputies said they responded to a 911 call Thursday night about a car crash on U.S. Route 209 in Kerhonkson that involved a fire and people trapped in the vehicle.

They said after they determined Murden's car, a 2012 Toyota Tacoma, was unoccupied, their investigation revealed Murden had hit a 2002 Dodge pickup truck driven by Brian Langaeder.

They said Murden's car then continued over a guardrail and struck several parked cars and a telephone pole.

The car then continued up a hill to a wooded area, where it caught fire, deputies said, adding that parts from the car struck a building owned by Gaydo's Auto Body.

Murden, Yerkes and Langaeder all were injured and taken to Ellenville Regional Hospital, deputies said.

At the hospital, deputies determined Murden was intoxicated, they said.

They said Yerkes assaulted hospital staff members, deputies, ambulance personnel and state police. One deputy and an emergency medical technician were injured after being struck multiple times by Yerkes and Murden, according to deputies.

Murden and Yerkes were issued court appearance tickets and released from custody, deputies said.